School Board Permits, But Argues On Boaters

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30289, 15 November 1963, Page 14

School Board Permits, But Argues On Boaters

Prejudices for and against straw boaters were ajred at a meeting of the Burnside High School board of governors last evening when a suggestion from the principal (Mr C. Cross) that sixth form pupils be permitted to wear them brought forth strong discussion among the board.

Mr Cross said that the suggestion had come from the school council. Sixth formers had been asked if they wanted to wear boaters and had agreed that thev did. Mr B. Zeff, who admitted he had been forced to wear one in his youth, said they were useless and out of date One gust of wind and they were rolling down the street. Men’s fashions had changed and the boater was definitely “out." “They’ll be wanting to wear high-buttoned boots next,” he said “I have too much respect for the responsibility of our young people. They would not want to do any such thing,” objected the only woman member present, Mrs C. C. Holland. It must be remembered that the wish to wear them came from the young people The board would not be keeping faith with them if it did not consider their request as a major factor in the matter, she said. She was supported in this view by the chairman, Professor N. M. MacElwee. A motion by Mr W. J. Gardner to defer the question till next year, when the children would have had time to think about it and perhaps have forgotten “the whim of the moment.” was not carried Board members though! oupils had been influenced by certain other Christ-

church schools, some of which had recently adopted boaters. Mr Cross said that it was not a question, of sixth formers having to wear them, but being permitted to wear them if they wanted. Both boys and girls had said they would wear them if permitted. Frustrated Wearer Mr L. A. Johnson said that it was obvious that some members had been forced to wear them. He was a frustrated boater wearer. “I quite like them. I always wanted to wear one, but I couldn’t,” he said. Mrs Holland agreed that she liked them also and added that it was impossible to tell young people that their parents had tried them and discarded them. They would have to learn by their own experience, said Mr Johnson. “It is the children who have to wear them, not us.” The ’ board finally agreed to permit sixth formers to wear boaters if they wished